Linney

Underwater 3D reconstruction is becoming an increasingly valuable tool for marine conservation, reef monitoring, habitat documentation, and environmental education. Two methods that stand out are Structure from Motion (SfM) and Gaussian Splatting. Both techniques can be used to create underwater 3D models of coral reefs and marine habitats, but each comes with its own strengths and challenges. Gaussian Splatting currently seems to have the upper hand when it comes to visual quality, lighting representation, and overall realism. The rendered scenes can look incredibly immersive and detailed, especially for complex reef structures. However, underwater data collection is another story. For underwater SfM workflows, data collection tends to be more practical and forgiving, especially when using lightweight setups like a GoPro. Capturing ideal orbital movement underwater is extremely difficult due to buoyancy, current movement, visibility conditions, and limited maneuverability. A proper underwater capture technique is essential: • Maintain stable and overlapping footage/images • Avoid disturbing marine life and sediment • Minimize contact with corals or surrounding habitats • Ensure smooth movement during capture sessions Good field practices matter just as much as the reconstruction software itself. As underwater spatial documentation continues evolving, combining practical field methods with newer reconstruction techniques could open huge opportunities for marine conservation, reef monitoring, eco-tourism, and digital preservation. Below are the results comparison between Gaussian Splatting and SfM underwater reconstruction using free softwares. #MarineConservation #CoralReef #GaussianSplatting #StructureFromMotion #SfM #Photogrammetry #3DReconstruction #UnderwaterImaging #DroneTechnology #GIS #RemoteSensing #MarineTechnology #ConservationTechnology